Amistad

by Joyce Annette Barnes

In 1839, a young man called Cinque leads a group of Africans to take control of the slave ship Amistad. They want to return to their homes in Africa but instead they land in America and are sent to prison for murder. The Americans think of the Africans as property, not people. Now they must begin fighting for their freedom ...Amistad is a powerful new film from Steven Spielberg and Dream Works starring Morgan Freeman. It is a true story which will inspire and move you.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

41 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

Reviews

[هيفاء · Rating 5 out of 5]

العبودية اللعينة والعار الشنيع بحق البشرية تجاه أصحاب البشرة السمراء. تدور أحداث القصة الحقيقة في العام 1839 في واحدة من أهم قضايا المتاجرة في العبيد؛ حيث يتم اختطاف مجموعة من الأفارقة للمتاجرة بهم في أمريكا لدى الأسياد ذوي البشرة البيضاء للعمل في مزارع السكر، وفي سبيل حقهم بالحرية والتمرد رفضًا لما حدث لهم والثورة ضد تعامل الأسياد السيئ معهم -والذي لا يُقبل في حق الحيوان أصلًا -، قاموا بقتل أفراد من طاقم السفينة للعودة إلى أفريقيا؛ وأدى القبض عليهم إلى معركة قضائية، إلا أن العدالة الأمريكية لا تراهم أصحاب حق بالبقاء إنما عبيد يتم بيعهم وشرائهم بثمنٍ بخس، وتُجيز لنفسها قطع أعناقهم. لولا صراع أصحاب الضمائر من أجل إطلاق سراحهم وبمساعدة قائد المجموعة البطل "سينك" في الفترة التي لا توجد ترجمة بحكم اختلاف اللغة، فكيف يتم محاسبة أحدهم والحديث عنه وهو لا يفهم ما تقول ولا أنت تفهمه كذلك! الظلم في أبشع صوره.

ثم شاهدت الفيلم المستوحى من هذه الرواية من بطولة الرائع مورغان فريمان، وأنتوني هوبكنز.

Amistad

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118607/?...

[隻眼簽到 · Rating 4 out of 5]

奴隸與美國獨立宣言
僅不到一百五十年前，美國還是個擁有奴隸的國家，今日卻搖身一變，儼然成為世界的人權警察，到處數落別國的人權。
這本書的內容很有意義，“描寫也好”，是本很好的英文讀本。前言中敘述了故事大要：The Amistad was a real Spanish slave ship. ...... It was taking(kidnap) some young Africans to work as slaves, but they fought and killed the sailors on the ship. The Africans tried to sail the ship home to Africa but a US ship found them and took them to ...... America. There they faced prison and the courts. ...... The courts must decide: Are the Africans murderers or are they honest men, fighting to be free?
我一直覺得美國的幾位開國元勳，是他們維持文明精神的取之不盡的靈感來源。本書的故事更是個典型。故事當時的美國總統，為了選票，想犧牲這批非洲人的人權。他接二連三的干預司法，但即使是立場偏向政府的法官，最後法庭都仍守住了人權正義，委實不易。當然，律師的陳述尤是精華所在，值得抄錄：
These great men, Jefferson and Franklin, wrote this, the Declaration of Independence. If slavery is right, what must we do with this important piece of paper? The Declaration of Independence says that all men must be free ... what shall I do with this paper?
他對著開國元勳的人像說：We need to be as strong and wise as you today, so that we are not afraid, Make us brave enough to do what is right. Even if it means war in our country. And if it means war, we hope it will be the last one in our fight for a new America.
最後，美國終於免不了這一戰。雖然了不起，但我想，美國在干涉他國人權的時候應該想到，他們自己的人權也是如此得來不易。想把自己的人權教條套在別國頭上時，該“誠實”一點。

[Lady Shalott · Rating 2 out of 5]

(For my personal records only.)
Not sure why I expected this to be an original story adaptation for young adults. I didn't realize until I started that it is just reiterating the scenes from the film--a useful pairing for young readers practicing comprehension, but not as original or vivid as I expected.

I was impressed that it seemed that the author did some research on her end to add depth to the African characters' perspectives. They were not completely exoticized nor made into monocultures. I also thought the explanation of how slaves were sold into slavery by other tribes to pay off debts was an insightful detail for young readers. That historical context is not often detailed in history books.

It was succinct and sated my curiosity to learn more about La Amistad, having never learned of it before. I'm not sure I need to watch the movie now, though, since the book wrapped everything up so neatly. If this were written for the story's sake and not the film's, then the language would have ended up more appealing to younger readers, with less emphasis on names. The result was a formulaic retelling rather than an imaginative dive into Cinque's experience.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m using this book to prepare older students before watching the movie and for younger students who are not ready for the film.
The book was adapted from the film, so it has gaps in detail. But it includes pics from the movie and is a great option for children.

[Nu · Rating 5 out of 5]

When freedom is at stake and all odds are against you, what must you do? Never give up.
5 stars.

[Lucifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short novel that talks about the history in the past, I liked it.. and especially the end was so satisfying for me.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gripping portrayal of the Middle Passage.

[Lynn Cansler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and sad explanation of the slave trade and the American response to an insurrection.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Politics of a people who lost their way, lead by greed.

[سامية · Rating 2 out of 5]

people are not property...people are not property..people are not property..people are not property

[Misaki Ohata · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. penguin level3
2. 12/15 45min 12/16 50min
3. Africans slave ship court right property free
4. a【The Amistad was a Spanish slave ship. It carried many African slaves. They killed the sailors to get their freedom, but US ship found the Amistad. Soon Africans were in the prison in the US.】
b【They are nobody's property, but are free people.】
5. I can't understand why people discriminate against colored people, because I think all of the people are equal. I wanna see the movie.

[Chie Akura · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Penguin readers level 3

2. 12/16=35min, 1/4= 60min

3. slave African fight court free cooperation angry

4. "It's better to die than to be a slave" was very impressed for me.

5. This true story was terrible. American don't think about slave's personal right at all. I think everyone in the world should live equally. We should respect as an individual.
I have watched movies like this many time, but I think why these distinction happens and have continued yet.

[Merna Al Shimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it was a short novel but I really like it and I believe if u want ur freedom ull find a way but u have to keep fighting and never ever give up and lose hope and belief in god. But at Arab world, Slavery had been cancelling since the Islam spread on the Arab world and the whole world
this story is not the only reason of stopping slavery on the world
I see it amazing story and has moral

[Sena Honda · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Penguin Readers level3
2 1/4 10min 1/5 70min 1/6 50min
3 slave,ship,US,Africa,black men,own way
4 This story teach me how black men came to this country and what free is. At that time the US's law did not only have part of right, but also part of wrong. That occered this story.
5 when I read this book, i have wanted to know this big problem more detail. I'll try to watch this movie.

[Kenyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cinque unfairly captured, is placed on a slave ship and with the help of his other captives they take over the ship. though they are supposed to be sailing back to Africa they end of in America. will these people who taken from their country be freed? or will they become slaves?

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up for my son who isn't very much into reading history but was interested in the Amistad replica. It is very short and does not go into much depth, but does a decent job of telling the story in a manner that may capture a reluctant tween boy's attention.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a junior novel based on the screenplay by Franzoni and Zaillian.

Horrifying. Emotionally moving. Powerful.
Sadly, I did not know the story until this reading. Grateful for this exceptionally written text about this time in the history of slavery.

[Justin Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty good, but why not watch Spielberg's movie?

[Namiko]

I like it. But what I don't understand is that these Africans were free but why many people in Africa are struggle with poor.

[H Warsame · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this book it teach me how black people came to this country.